The Moor of Death
The Moor of Death | |
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Produced for: | Fantomen 4/1986 |
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# of pgs: | 32 |
Writer: | Michael Tierres |
Artist: | Jaime Vallvé |
Original colorist: | N/A |
Producer: | Semic Press |
"The Moor of Death" is a 1986 Team Fantomen story, written by Michael Tierres, with art by Jaime Vallvé.
Plot synopsis
In the beginning of 1775 the 12th Phantom is travelling by coach with his wife Marion Trelawney to her parent's manor when a snow storm forces the coach to stop in the village of Stonehill. Before arriving there the coachman discovers the body of a badly bitten dead man. After arriving at the inn, the locals receive the news of the dead man with great concern, speaking of wolves and that bad news has returned after 40 years. Later, the coachman is found dead in the stable with his throat bitten off. The Phantom discovers foot prints of a wolf. Following the foot prints, he discovers that they change into the foot prints of a man.
Speaking with the local chemist, Tackleton, the next day, the Phantom learns that the village has for centuries been plagued by a ferocious wolf man. Later that day The Phantom goes for a walk to the stone circle outside the village. He meets Tackleton who more or less accuses The Phantom of being the wolf man, citing as evidence the fact that he is wearing a skull ring and promises that it is the duty of every good Christian to destroy the tools of the devil.
Late at night The Phantom hears voices that make him return to the stone circle. A few of the locals meet him there and explain that they belong to a select group of guardians and that one of them, Martin, has caged a monstruous beast in his soul. Martin's mental powers are expiring and the beast will soon be released. There is however a prophecy that a man who wears the sign of the skull will slay the demon using an enchanted sword.
Returning to the village, The Phantom is captured by Tackleton and other men who accuse him of being a demon and proceed to have him hanged. The Phantom manages to escape. He returns to the inn to witness when the wolf man is about to attack his wife Marion. Using the enchanted sword he succeeds in killing the beast in the burning stable. The dead wolf man changes into the inkeeper's son. The Phantom tells the others that the beast died inside the stable.
Appearances
Recurring characters
One-time characters
- Winterbottom
- Pudle
- Molly
- O'Reilly, coachman
- Finlay, inn keeper
- Mrs Molly Finlay
- Tackleton, chemist
- Martin, inn keeper's son
Locations
- Bengali
- England
- Plymouth (mentioned)
- Stonehill
- Cornwall (mentioned)
- Pendragon House (mentioned)
Objects
- A sword hilt
- Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur
- Durandal, the sword of Roland
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Denmark
- "Dødens hede", Fantomet #312 (1989)
Finland
- "Kuolon nummi", Mustanaamio 17/1986
Norway
- "Monsteret på heden", Fantomet 15/1986
- "Monsteret på heden", Fantomets Krønike 1/1991
Sweden
- "Dödens hed", Fantomen 4/1986
- "Dödens hed", Fantomen Krönika 2/1996
- "Dödens hed", Fantomen Krönika Band 4 (2002)
Awards
- Best story (Finland) 1986